Influence of the bioclimatic area on the polyphenolic composition, and antioxidant and bacteriostatic activities of Rosmarinus officinalis

Abstract

The effect of the ecological traits of the different bioclimatic areas of the province of Murcia on the chemical variability and antioxidant and bacteriostatic activities of individual rosemary extracts was studied. The main findings confirmed that a high thermicity index, favors both the methanolic extracts yielded by these shrubs and their biological activities. However, differences in their polyphenolic composition should be attributed to the genetic heritage of these plants rather than to the bioclimatic conditions in which they grow. As regards the relationship between the chemical composition of these extracts and their biological activities, it was noted that a high phenolic acid content, especially of rosmarinic acid, may increase the antioxidant activity exhibited by extracts containing high levels of carnosic acid. The bacteriostatic activity was higher (p< 0.05) in those extracts in which carnosic acid was the major component quantified.